Beam Me up blog is the sister/support site For the Beam Me Up podcast. It contains links, discussion and material that might be or have been discussed on the show. Also links to new show listings and material. Be sure to check out the live stream every Saturday at 4pm eastern at http://www.wrfr.org/links.html and select stream

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Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Now, you have to admit that this is a question that will twist the bawain just a bit. Why? because if you subscribe to either Newtonian or Eisensteinian physics - your going to look at the question differently and therefore your answer is going to vary accordingly.

The question at hand was "How Big Was the Universe When it Was First Born?" You would think "simple enough" at first blush, that was until it was time to actually answer. My very first inclination was to answer like a good quantum particle man and answer "at the time of the big bang, thestructure that would come to be the universe was an infinitely small potential but still, calling it potential is really unfair. Much as calling a Nuclear reaction, "potential" after the first control rod has been raised. Nothing has happened yet, but the release of a great amount of power is all but a given.

So considering how everything tends to be relative, we know how far or the distance covered by a contemporary light year, but what of pre-big bang?

Why? Well according to the article - traveling back from the big bang to the very end of inflation and the start of the hot, dense state that scientists identify with as pre-Big Bang, and ask how big would it be? (I really have to ask here if relativity can be brought into play. If we are asked about a definitive state, isn't that state relative?) Depending on the particulars of when inflation came to an end, the answer is somewhere between the size of a soccer ball and the size of a city block, no smaller and no larger.

But that would almost have to be relative to where you are making the observations and could you even make an observation outside?

Friday, December 18, 2015

Not so long ago we were watching CERN do it's thing and crunch it's numbers - hunting for the elusive Higgs Boson particle. When confirmed it seemed most of the research community had a collective release, followed almost immediately with a "now what?"

I have to step back here with an observation. Many of the news outlets treat a possible discovery as the real thing. Not a maybe but an IS.

Case in point. Once the H.B. was confirmed, the data was re-examined for data that seemed to point towards another much more complex particle. Nothing was confirmed but the data suggested a follow on particle, nothing was confirmed though. So you can imagine my consternation when I was informed that CERN indeed HAS discovered a new ultra dense particle, leaving Higgs Boson in some sort of particle physics, jerk water by-way, buuuuuuuuuuut.....

Reading the Wired UK article - The team at Switzerland's Cern Large Hadron Collider may have discovered a new particle.

Since it's upgrade earlier this year, LHC researchers have observed spikes that could be the result of particle collisions between a new boson even larger than the Higgs. In my book, this is a MAY have not an HAS made a discovery.

The particle -- if truly a new discovery -- would be about four times larger than the top quark,the heaviest particle so far discovered. And it would be six times bigger than the Higgs.

In any event, this is still an amazing piece of research on a totally amazing machine.

Not sayimg a word. Not a freaking damn word. It's been too long since I actually read the book. However, as for my personal opinion, I never did get it. And here is why. Gene Roddenberry, May he be immortal and in hiding, had it wrong. Russia is not the Klingon Empire. We are. America, Russia, China, And every other little country you can name, with the exception of a few. This is, (as the Doctor once said about his hand), is a fighting planet. No way in the universe would we ever accept the silliness that they proposed, and here is why. One statement, just one. Especially here in America, and in Russia and China, Korea, Britain, etc would mean automatic paranoia, what are you up to, screw you, fire everything. And here is that statement. “We are here to help you.” Yeah right. We are Americans. No way we believe that crap. No such thing as a free lunch. Now don't get me wrong. Old Clarke is one of my favorites of all time. I love his works, and always will, this one included. But remember, I read this when I was like 8 – 10. No way I trust an alien coming here ever. And guess what, anyone that agrees with that, is an automatic racist. Isn't that fun.

Now do I believe there are races that actually would come and help us. No I don't. Have you looked at us? No way would any superior race attempt to help us again, even if they did come here long ago and start all the crap they wouldn't come back now. Hell, we're freaking lunatics. Anyway, off to the next bitch. You all should love or hate me after this one. HEE HEE HEE.

Star Wimps, (sorry, meant Wars)

Seriously. Really. If this rumor is true, I really am done. Lucas, Disney, the whole freaking crew can kiss my Lilly white Namekian loving arse. Killing Han, really? Only guy worth shit in the first three, and now lets kill him for a story line. The character that sent me down the path I followed in life, that led me into things I didn't even imagine as a kid? (Yeah I haven't always been a good guy, but i swear to you I was never a bad guy.Well, not really.) And you kill Han for a story rating? F YOU. I HATE YOU. Filthy little pr..k may as well be a modern day lying so called journalist.
Abrams is as ignorant as Sapir was at one time. (Ben Sapir who wanted to kill off Chiun in book five for a great ending to a story. In other words not thinking ahead. (147 books later the original book series finally came to an end). And he's the one that sent the telegram of 1,000,00 sold to every editor and publishing house that turned down the Destroyer series. (Remo)). And by the way, before you all start cursing Sapir, he left the destroyer series back in January of 1987. Only because he died. One of the two original authors of “The Destroyer.” We miss him.

Now then, lets look at this idiocy. Yeah, I am coming to despise that Abrams asshole almost as much as I want to beat the living …..........h....s......y......w/.... out of Josh Tranks the hater of the Fantastic Four. Lucas created a white hat, black hat scenario.

A fantasy.

Heros

Villians

Good guy vs bad guy fantasy. In other words, The Princess Bride sort of thing,. No bugs in the blood, it's a mystical energy field. Magic. Sorcery. Not freaking scientific explanations. You all know me. I'm sorry. Science does not belong in SW's. It's a fantasy.In other words, don't kill off the hidden true hero. Let him vanish like they did with Pegasus in the original and only worthwhile Battlestar Galactica. Abrams is an idiot if he actually did this.

Doctor Who is more scientific that SW could ever be now. Hyperspace, seriously? Parsec as a measurement of time??????

And I finally respect Will again and if you saw tonight's big bang theory you know why. I want a trekkie shirt, (mine is seriously shot to hell), and a ticket to star wars. HEH HEH HEH. Yeah, I would. In a freaking heart beat. That you Wil Wheaton.

Now then. Yeah, I'm back, almost. Still learning some things I need to know, but back full time soon. With pics of first basic aquaponic setup, and then full info on big build of system. After that, videos of tear down, build of land, large farm aquaponic system, and building of house bus RV tutorial. It'll be on you tube folks. I'll let you know when.Always with links from here.

Still here, still alive, and still loonie as shit. Hah. Kal never dies. He just goes a bit cuckoo at times. As in, pick a time.

And if you are interested, I can prove that the so called protectors, The Jedi Knights, are truly the evil ones, not the Sith. Ben started to prove it in movie 1. It was absolutely proven later that the Jedi are the true evil in that universe. The sith are the protectors of freedom. The Jedi are haters of free thought or expression, or action. The Jedi are the enemy, and always will be.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

The Canadian Space Agency has developed and delivered a Laser Altimeter to Lookheed Martin's Space Systems facility near Denver.

It will be part of theOrigins-Spectral Interpretation-Resource Identification-Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) project, an international effort to collect a sample of Asteroid Bennu and bring it to Earth.

Canada's laser altimeter will be integrated onto the spacecraft and undergo spacecraft-level testing, before the September 2016 launch.

Why Bennu? Bennu has the potential to impact the Earth in the late 2100s. Planning ahead is important.

Monday, December 14, 2015

I usually don't do Earth sciences as for the most part they are not my forte so to speak. But sometime not saying anything is paramount to agreeing or supporting crackpot ideas. For example....

A recent town meeting in Woodland North Carolina heard comments on a proposed solar energy plant.

What was surprising was the number of people who spoke out against the solar farm including a retired science teacher named Jane Mann. One of Mz Mann's concerns was that the array would suck up all the sun energy leaving none for the plants to conduct photosynthesis. Also she was concerned about the jump in cancer deaths in the area, might be attributed to the solar power plant.

Bobby Mann also agreed but went on to say that with the solar farm sucking up all the energy, new businesses would be disinclined to locate in Woodland. The array would kill the town and young people would then move away.

After research covering years of investigation, scientist uncover how to close gap between atoms. Enclosed in an armored suit, it gives the wearer the very selfsame abilities. One to shrink to invisibility and second to return to normal size.

Along the way, our hero has also garnered the proportional strength of the ant as well as the ability to speak to them fluently.

These plot devices are hung as you would xmas bulbs on a tree and in this case, a workman plot line.

Our scientist starts a company to study and utilizes this new discovery. The business partner proves to be ruthless and evil, with a healthy dose of greed mixed in. Others in the cast are shuffled back and forth between both extremes.

If you havn't guessed yet, science, mostly physics are tossed almost immediately. But mass and energy are added and subtracted on a whim. I don't even want to allude to the instances in question. Rent Ant Man and lets see if you see what I saw. I can remember thinking "Oh No! the can not be going to go there! But they do.

The plot is fair, The fight sceans as well as the action moments are at best workman. But it is the science that really left me cold.

The backgrounds are nice, the CGI is grandly overdone and the acting from those like Michael Douglas was workman or better.

So if you are looking for a comic book adaption then this film is just the ticket but as a stand alone movie it isn't working. I would have gone a 6 if it was clear they were not tied to their junk science, but when it became clear that they were vested in it that I could not in good conscience go above 4or 5.

It would make a neat rental and as a kids movie but I would not want friends to know I had this in my stash.

Monday, December 07, 2015

NASA's New Horizon probe was launched January 2006 and after nine and a
half years and 3 billion miles, has sent back the clearest photos of
Pluto. These pics are 10 times the resolution of previous pictures,
and shows, Pluto's moon Charon as well as its other satellites.

New Horizon began its historic pass in July of 2015 and began transmitting
data almost immediately. However due to its distance and small, low power
transmitter, New Horizon will be sending data well into 2016 before the
thousands of picture that were taken are transmitted back to Earth.

I honestly do not think that HOME needs a review. The plot is completely derivative. One clueless alien race being chased by another malevolent race, invades Earth, displacing humans as completely incompetent, though it soon becomes clear that the worst screw-up is O who is constantly screwing up in major fashion.

O is soon befriended by Tip who is looking for her mother. Together they both commence on a totally warped road trip.

Along the way there are major reversals and not everything is as it seems.

The movie is well drawn and animated as well as brilliantly voice cast. I would be tempted to rate it an 8 for the above and it is clearly a fine film for young people or a family film. But if we rate it with the plot line you have to take into account how lazy and derivative it is, drawing for just about any invasion film out there. So the best I can do is 6, which means go ahead and watch it and enjoy it with your children or family. But be prepared to explain yourself to your friends!

I just got a chance to view the film American Ultra. I was under the impression that it was some kind of stoner movie and my movie guy Mark thought it was a spy thriller. While there are these as element in the film, it is instead a Sci-Fi through and through. That however is far from a saving grace,

Mike and Phoebe are stoners. Mike works in a convenience store and even though Mike has major phobias, all seems well, until that is a woman shows up at the store and starts spouting gibberish at

Mike. From there it gets weirder and weirder. Think of Chuck on acid.

I would like to call it a fun romp as Chuck was but it isn't. American Ultra is at times violent, bloody and a goodly helping of gore.

All play well into the plot but like I said, there are goodly amounts of all mentioned which can be off-putting. I would rate the film a 7. You however might rate it higher, but I think 7 is fair.

The Exoplanet is known as a "hot Jupiter" and at 63 light years, it is the closest planet of it's type to Earth.

All of these features are indeed awe inspiring. How there is another feature in the planet's makeup that is truly awe inspiring. Exoplanet HD189733b is to have observed speeds of up to a massive 5,400 miles per hour, which is 20 times faster than anything that has been experienced on Earth.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Well, I got a chance to watch the newest incarnation (maybe the last?) of the Terminator series Terminator Genisis. This film was, I suspect, meant to tie up
loose ends. However according to the Wikipedia, Genisis is the first of three.

I don't want to give too much away as some may not have seen the film. (if you have see the film, check out Genisis on the Wikipedia site for info, you may have missed.

I really liked the masterful use of Terminator 1 and 2, but you have got to see how they missed the mark on the time line. If you are going to set the timelinein 1, continue it in 2 with 3 and 4 playing around the edges of the time-line (all though 4, took some liberties that left me wanting) only to have Genesis pretty much throw it all out.....and ageing? really?!

I like the idea of bringing back Arnold, he really owns the Terminator 850. Icould say more about Sarah, John and Reese but again, I am getting too close toa spoiler.......

The movie isn't bad but isn't stunningly good either. I would give it a 7.

Sunday, November 08, 2015

A star system that SETI has designated "Tabby's Star" has been a source of speculation about extraterrestrial intelligence has offered, after two weeks of extensive scrutiny, has offered up only radio silence.

Not much by previous
amounts however in the far distant past, huge solar storms travelling at several times the present speeds, allowed
for 10 to 20 times as much material.
Because of their strength and speed, These solar storms were capable of gutting Mars' atmosphere from warm and moist to
cold and dry desert of today.

Monday, November 02, 2015

Episode 456 was my Halloween episode which always incorporates Colin P, Davies' classic tale Happy Halloween narrated by Kelly better known as Crystal Wizard. I absolutely love this story which has a masterful twist at the end.

The first story is a treat as we don't get to have stories narrated by Ron Huber. The story is called the Benefactor written by David K. Scholes.

I start however with the movie Vice. With Bruce Willis and Thomas Jane among others.

Friday, October 30, 2015

recent dive through the frozen water geyser erupting from
Enceladus'south pole.
On the 28th of October 2015 Cassini dove to within 18.6
miles of Enceladus' surface. The tiny icey moon is thought
to be a promicing hideout for alien life.
The geyser (which is geothermally heated) is spewing water
which Cassini availed itself of. So at 12,000 mph the
probe collected a drop which it is now analyzing .

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Here is a sceanerio worth putting your mind to. Imagine you're in charge of a computer that is 40 years old. That's right, a computer right out of the Atari age.

As fantastical as it sounds, that is exactly the problem facing NASA's voyager mission now that the last remaining engineer Larry Zottarelli is retiring at the age of eighty.

We have established that Voyager1 (which in 2013 left the the solar system completely) is indeed old, (it is amazing that the craft is operational at all!) but it is also an amagingly far from Earth at somewhere near 15 billion miles!

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

A Ceres-like asteroid is slowly disintegrating as it orbits a white
dwarf star. Astronomers have spotted telltales signs of such an object
using data from the Kepler K2 mission. It is the first planetary object
detected transiting a white dwarf. Within about a million years the object will be destroyed, leaving a thin dusting of metals on the surface of the white dwarf.

During observations of the white dwarf WD 1145+017, astronomers noticed the presence of several planetary pieces in orbit. The total mass of debris is thought to be
around the size of the asteroid Ceres in our solar
system's main asteroid belt.

These small planetary husks, all having orbits of between 4.5
to 4.9 hours, are too small to be seen by themselves; but their presence
became known when the researchers detected huge dust clouds trailing
them in their orbits. Follow-up observations by ground-based
observatories were used to decipher what elements are inside the debris.

Saturday, October 17, 2015

As scary as a hole 50 Earths might be it is even scarier because the huge hole spews out a
stream of high - speed solar wind, creating a geomagnetic storm close to our own planet.

The image was taken on October 10 in wavelengths of 193 Angstroms, which is invisible to our
eyes. The dark spot, known as a coronal hole, which materialized last week remains harmless to
humans on Earth but can interfere with satellite communications and some high-altitude radio
signals.

Coronal holes appear randomly on the outer layer of the sun, making it look darker than the
rest of the star. Caused b y anomalies in the sun's magnetic field, th e darker patch is
abundant with colder, less dense, low-energy gas and plasma.

Saturday, October 03, 2015

Jan Sheuermann's main goal was to feed herself. She ended up piloting the world’s most expensive fighter jet.

Sheuermann is unable to move her arms and legs due to a neurodegenerative disease. Scientists from Darpa and the University of Pittsburgh
approached her in 2012 and two
years later, towards the end of her stint as a neuromotor guinea pig,
the scientists changed the game. Instead of connecting Sheuermann’s
brain interface to a robotic arm, they connected her to a flight
simulator. Using the same neural connections to pilot an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Sunday, September 13, 2015

The 2015 Hugo Awards, the World Science Fiction Convention in Seattle.

It appears that the drama started even before the nominations were out.

According to a report from Sci-Fi Storm blog, the group “Sad Puppies” attempting to influence the nomination and voting process to correct what they perceived as the infiltration of the genre by women and minorities, where it was formerly “ruled” by white males." (boy does THAT sound familiar!)

Well according to the story in Sci-Fi Storm, the Sad Puppies lost out, but their antics may have resulted in perhaps deserving winners, due possibly to the Puppies support.

There were 5 categories – Best Novella, Best Short Story, Best Related Work, Best Editor, Short Form, and Best Editor, Long Form all resulted in “No Award” winning, with four others having No Award in second place, as well as the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer also coming in second. It would appear that the voter's did not appreciate the antics of the group and soundly voted any supporters out.

That being said, here is a short list of some of the award winners.

Best Novel: The Three Body Problem, Cixin Liu, Ken Liu translator

Best Novelette: The Day the World Turned Upside Down, Thomas Olde Heuvelt, Lia Belt translator

The John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer: Wesley Chu

Please visit the Sci-Fi Storm site HERE to read the complete article and the HUGO site HERE

Saturday, September 12, 2015

I was just looking through YouTube when I lucked onto a video from Beyond Science and narrated by Michael Chen. Why was I so lucky? Well first and foremost it's primary focus is that of Universes. Yep, multiple. One of my Faves, the concept that every actions spins off a new universe.

Though one must ponder the implications of this concept. I feel much less disconcerted with the idea of pocket universes

They make a good case for instances like De-Ja-Vu (the weird feeling that you have been or done something weirdly similar to present events. Or even stranger, you are sure that you did or said or read something that is subtly different. The video shows some incredibly strange examples.

NASA is one step closer to sending astronauts to Mars. Engineers at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans welded together the first two segments of the Orion crew module that will fly atop NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket on a mission beyond the far side of the moon.

The primary structure of Orion’s crew module is made of seven large aluminum pieces that must be precisely welded together. The first weld connects the tunnel to the forward bulkhead, which is at the top of the spacecraft and houses many of Orion’s critical systems, such as the parachutes that deploy during reentry. Orion’s tunnel, with a docking hatch, will allow crews to move between the crew module and other spacecraft.

During the coming months as other pieces of Orion’s primary structure arrive at Michoud from machine houses across the country, engineers will inspect and evaluate them to ensure they meet precise design requirements before welding. Once complete, the structure will be shipped to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida where it will be assembled with the other elements of the spacecraft.

Monday, September 07, 2015

Episode 452! Wow! I am constantly amazed that the episodes keep coming out to 1 hour. I keep thinking....it's going to be late...it's going to be late and as luck would have it, they come out on time.

My initial offering deals with the SF horror genre taking a major hit this week. two new stories, plus additional material from the blog.

After the opening monologue I give us a taste of Blue Oyster.

Then the first story for the program, In Plain Sight episode #35 and the weirdness is starting to build for our favorite psychic detective Jack Garrett.

Next is a trip through the newest listings on the Beam Me Up blog - Like a rather "twisted" end to a Long March engine, or the research that may shore up the argument that Black Holes may indeed "evaporate".

finally it is the second story for the afternoon. Child Soldier by J. Alden.